Item status tracking

ABSTRACT

A method and system for tracking the status of a label. The system can include a memory with a database. The database can include an indicator of the label status. The system can additionally include a processor that operates in accordance with instructions stored in the memory. The processor can receive a request to generate a label, update the first database with an identifier that indicates the existence of the label, receive a signal indicating that a service requested by the label has been provided, and update the identifier in the first database to indicate that the requested service has been provided.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/826,644, filed Mar. 14, 2013, which claims priority to and thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61/618,568, which was filed Mar.30, 2012. Any and all priority claims identified in the Application DataSheet, or any correction thereto, are hereby incorporated by referenceunder 37 CFR § 1.57.

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention

The present application relates to item management system and methods.

Description of the Related Art

A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased anddisplayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Postagestamps are purchased from a postal administration or other authorizedvendor and are used to pay for the costs involved in moving mail as wellas other business necessities such as insurance and registration. Thispayment is made at the time that the postage stamp is received, and notat the time that the postal services are provided. While this model hasbeen successfully used for several years, it also can result in peoplepaying for postage that they do not use. Specifically, a person may payfor and receive postage, and the postage is either lost, or it isadhered to an item that does not need to be shipped, or any other of arange of circumstances occur that result in the individual, who paid forthe postage, not being able to receive the benefit of his purchase.These problems not only arise in the context of postal services, but canarise in the broader context of any service and service provider.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments relate to a system for tracking the status of an item.The system can include, for example, a first database including iteminformation, which item information can include an identifier indicatingthe item status, and a processor operating in accordance withinstructions stored in a memory. In some embodiments, the processor canreceive a request to generate an item, update the identifier in thefirst database to indicate the existence of the item, receive a signalindicating that a service identified by the item has been provided, andupdate the identifier in the first database to indicate that theidentified service has been provided.

In some embodiments, the system can further include a second databasethat can include a user identifier such as, for example, a username, apassword, and/or a user account number. In some embodiments, the systemcan further include a third database that can include paymentinformation that can be, for example, associated with the useridentifier in the second database.

In some embodiments, the processor can further receive the useridentifier, and compare the received user identifier to the useridentifier stored in the second database. In some embodiments, theprocessor can further request payment information from the thirddatabase after receiving the signal indicating that that the status ofthe item has changed. In some embodiments, the processor can furtherreceive a second item request, provide a second item in response to thereceived item request; and update the first database with the firstidentifier indicating the existence of the second item. In someembodiments, the process can further receive a signal indicating thatthe status of the second item has changed, and update the first databasewith the second identifier indicating the changed item status of thesecond item.

In some embodiments, the item can be a variety of items, including, forexample, a package, an envelope, and/or any other item.

Some embodiments relate to a method of tracking and creating an item.The method can include, for example, receiving a request to generate anelectronic version of a item, providing the electronic version of theitem in response to the received request, updating an identifierindicating the existence of the item, receiving a signal indicating thatthe item has been received, which receipt of the item corresponds withthe performance of requested services on the item, and updating theidentifier to indicate that the item has been received.

In some embodiments of the method, the item includes a uniqueidentifier. In some aspects of the method, providing the item includesproviding item information.

In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving a corporealembodiment of the item information, receiving item information from thecorporeal embodiment of the item information, receiving a useridentifier and querying a second database to identify a user accountassociated with the user identifier, requesting payment informationafter receiving the signal indicating that the status of the item haschanged, and/or requesting payment. In some embodiments, the identifyingthe user account includes, for example, verifying the received useridentifier.

Some embodiments relate to a method of tracking status of an item tocontrol initiation of a process. The method can include, for example,storing in a non-transitory storage device an indication defining afirst status of the item, detecting use of the item in a pre-definedmanner, modifying the indication to define a second state of the itemreflective of the detected use; and initiating the process in responseto the modification of the indication to define the second state of theitem.

The foregoing is a summary and thus contains, by necessity,simplifications, generalization, and omissions of detail; consequently,those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary isillustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Otheraspects, features, and advantages of the devices and/or processes and/orother subject matter described herein will become apparent in theteachings set forth herein. The summary is provided to introduce aselection of concepts in a simplified form that are further describedbelow in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended toidentify key features or essential features of the claimed subjectmatter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scopeof the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features of the present disclosure will becomemore fully apparent from the following description and appended claims,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding thatthese drawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with thedisclosure and are not to be considered limiting of its scope, thedisclosure will be described with additional specificity and detailthrough use of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of an item.

FIG. 1a depicts one embodiment of a payment sheet.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a statustracking system.

FIG. 3 is a flow-chart illustrating an embodiment of a process fortracking a status of a label to trigger a payment transaction.

FIG. 3a is a flow-chart illustrating one embodiment of a process forusing a central status tracking system.

FIG. 3b is a flow-chart illustrating one embodiment of a process using acentral status tracking system to provide integral delivery and returnservice.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating another embodiment of a process fortracking a status of a label to trigger a payment transaction.

FIG. 5 is a flow-chart illustrating one expanded embodiment of the useridentification process performed in block 404 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a flow-chart illustrating one expanded embodiment of theprocess associated with receiving the request for and generating theelectronic version of the label as performed in block 406 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a flow-chart illustrating an expanded embodiment of theprocess for indicating label status in a first database as performed inblocks 408-412 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a flow-chart illustrating one expanded embodiment of theprocess for transacting payment performed in block 414 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8a is a flow-chart illustrating one expanded embodiment of theprocess for loss mitigation performed in block 814 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 9 depicts one embodiment of a label configured for use with amanifesting system.

FIG. 10 illustrates one embodiment of a manifesting system.

FIG. 11 is a flow-chart illustrating one embodiment of a process formanifesting performed by a central manifesting system.

FIG. 12 is a flow-chart illustrating one embodiment of a process forusing a central manifesting system.

FIG. 13 is a flow-chart illustrating another embodiment of a process formanifesting performed by a central manifesting system.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustrating one expanded embodiment of theprocess for authenticating user information performed in blocks 1302 and1304 of FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSURE

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings,similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless contextdictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in thedetailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting.Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made,without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matterpresented here. It will be readily understood that the aspects of thepresent disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated inthe Figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in awide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitlycontemplated and make part of this disclosure.

The system described herein provides for improved tracking of the statusof an item. In some embodiments, the tracking of the status of the itemcan be used to trigger a payment transaction when, for example, aservice is provided relating to the item. In some embodiments, thesystem described herein provides label information, tracks label statusin a database, updates label status information, and requests paymentwhen the label status changes to a specified label status. In someembodiments, the label information can be provided in response to arequest for label information, and the label information can be used tocreate a label that can be used independently or can be associated withan object. In some embodiments, the system provides for improved itemtracking of an item received by a service provider, such as, forexample, a postal service provider.

One embodiment relates to a system of tracking the status of an itemthat is provided to a customer in advance of the performance ofservices, and which is later received by the service provider from thecustomer at the time that services are provided. In one embodiment, thecustomer can, for example, provide the service provider with informationused to generate the item. In some embodiments, for example, the serviceprovider can use this received information to generate item information,the item information corresponding to a digital version of the item, andthe service provider can then send the generated item information to thecustomer. In some embodiments, the customer can then take the receivedgenerated item information and create the item, the creation of the itemcorresponding to the creation of a tangible version of the item.

In some embodiments, the service provider can, for example, maintain adatabase containing information relating to the creation of the item,the item, and to the item status. In some embodiments, the serviceprovider may track a variety of different item statuses including, forexample, a generated status corresponding to the status arising when theitem information is generated, an expired status corresponding to astatus arising if too large a time passes between the generation of theitem information, and a used status corresponding to an item for whichthe requested services have been provided. In some embodiments, thedifferent status can result in different system functions such as, forexample, the used status can trigger a payment request and/or a paymentor other follow-on transaction.

In some embodiments, the customer can deliver the item to the serviceprovider when the customer desires to receive the services. The serviceprovider can receive the item and update the item status in the databaseto reflect that the services requested by the item are being or havebeen provided. This update can, in some embodiments, trigger a paymentrequest and/or a payment transaction.

In one specific embodiment in which the service provider is a postalauthority and the item is postage, a customer can provide the postalauthority with information and request the generation of postage. Thepostal authority can generate postage information and provide thisinformation to the customer who can then create a physical version ofthe postage. When the customer would like to have an item associatedwith the postage delivered, the customer can affix the postage to theitem and deliver the item to the postal authority. Upon takingpossession of the item bearing the postage, the postal authority canupdate a database containing information relating to the status of thepostage to indicate that requested services have been provided, and canthen request payment by the customer.

The Label

FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of an item 100. The item can comprise anyobject for which a user desires to receive services. These services caninclude any services including, for example, storage, cleaning,processing, delivery, or any other service.

In some embodiments, the item 100 can comprise a label 102, or cancomprise a label 102 affixed and/or associated with an object 104. Thus,in some embodiments, the label 102 comprises the item 100 receiving theservices, and in other embodiments, the label 102 is affixed and/orassociated with the object 104 receiving the services.

The label 102 can comprise any feature configured for identification ofat least an account. In some embodiments, the label can identify a useraccount, a class of requested services, information relating to thelabel 102 and/or object 104, or any other desired information. Thus, inone specific embodiment, a label 102 can be configured for use aspostage and can include information identifying a sender's account, theitem being mailed with the label 102, and the type of mail servicerequested. As depicted in FIG. 1, the label 102 can, in someembodiments, be applied to the object 104.

The object 104 can comprise anything capable of receiving services andof physical association with the label 102. In some embodiments, theobject 104 can comprise, for example, a package, a box, an envelope, abag, or any other thing. In some embodiments, the object 104 can bedesignated for receiving a service from a service provider, such as,delivery, storage, processing, repair, upgrading, or any other service.In one specific embodiment, the object can be designated for delivery toa service provider, and specifically to a mail service provider. In someembodiments, the object 104 can be further designated for delivery by aservice provider, such as by the mail service provider.

In some embodiments, the label 102 can provide identification of therequested mail services and indication of payment for the requested mailservices. In some embodiments, this information can be located in one orseveral areas on the label 102. FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of thelabel 102 in which this information is located in a first data area 106,a second data area 108, and a third data area 110. A person of skill inthe arts will recognize that the present disclosure is not limited tothe specific number of data areas 106, 108, 110 depicted in FIG. 1, orthe positions of the data areas 106, 108, 110 on the label 102.

The data areas 106, 108, 110 can contain information stored in anydesired format. In some embodiments, the data areas 106, 108, 110 cancomprise, for example, text, a text string, an image, a computerreadable code, a signal emitter, or any other desired format. In someembodiments, the computer readable code can comprise, for example, abarcode such as, for example, a linear barcode, a 2-D barcode, a QRcode, an intelligent mail barcode, or any other desired format ofbarcode or computer readable code. In some embodiments, for example, thesignal emitter can comprise, a feature configured to emit energy from aspecific portion of the electromagnetic energy spectrum in response toan excitation signal. In some embodiments, this emitting feature cancomprise, for example, an RFID tag, a luminescent tag, or any othersignal emitting feature.

In some embodiments, each of the data areas 106, 108, 110 can compriseinformation in one or several formats. In one embodiment, for example,the first data area 106 can comprise, for example, text, the second dataarea 108 can comprise, for example, an intelligent mail bar code, andthe third data area can comprise a RFID tag and a text string.

The Payment Sheet

FIG. 1a depicts one embodiment of a payment sheet 150. In someembodiments, the payment sheet 150 can comprise an indicator identifyinga group of labels 102, the group comprising at least one label 102. Thepayment sheet 150 can be used, for example, to facilitate delivery of anumber of items 100 to a service provider as each of the items 100 inthe group of items 100 is associated with an identifier on the paymentsheet 150. Due to the association of each of the items 100 with thepayment sheet 150 identifier, by receiving information identifying thereceived payment sheet 150, a service provider can identify the group ofitems 100 and more quickly receive the items 100 for service.

The payment sheet can be used to provide label information to a centralstatus tracking system, which central status tracking system will bediscussed in detail below, at the time the label 102 is delivered to theservice provider (referred to as “induction”).

As depicted in FIG. 1a , the payment sheet 150 can comprise a substrate152. The substrate 152 can comprise any desired material capable ofbearing some or all of the below discussed information.

As further depicted in FIG. 1a , one embodiment of the payment sheet 150comprises a plurality of data fields. These data fields can includeinformation relating to a user account, to one or several labels 102, toservice costs, service class, requested services, or any other desiredinformation.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1a , a first data field 154 cancomprise, for example, information relating to a user account, a seconddata field 156 can comprise information relating to a first label 102, athird data field 158 can comprise, for example, information relating toa second label 102, a fourth data field 160 can comprise, for example,information relating to a third label 102, and a fifth data field 162can comprise, for example, information relating the total number oflabels 102 captured on the payment sheet 150. A person of skill in thearts will recognize that the present disclosure is not limited to thespecific number of data fields 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, the format ofthe payment sheet 150, or the above enumerated contents of the datafields 154, 156, 158, 160, 162.

The Status Tracking System

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an extended status trackingsystem 200. The extended status tracking system 200 can be configured,for example, to generate a label, track label status, and transactpayment. In some embodiments, the extended status tracking system 200can further include features configured to read, scan, and/or receiveinformation from a label 102 that has been delivered to a serviceprovider by a user and/or customer. In some embodiments, the extendedstatus tracking system 200 can process the label 102 information thatwas read, scanned, and/or received by the extended status trackingsystem 200, and can use this label information to determine a labelstatus such as payment due, service provided, services being provided,or any other desired status. In some embodiments, the label status canbe used to trigger an event, such as, for example, a payment requestand/or a payment transaction.

In some embodiments, the extended status tracking system 200 cancomprise, for example, a user terminal 202. The user terminal 202 cancomprise any device capable of allowing a user to communicate with acentral status tracking system 204. In some embodiments, the userterminal 202 can comprise, for example, a device comprising a processorsuch as a personal computer, a laptop computer, smart phone, a cellphone, a tablet, or any other similar device.

As depicted in FIG. 2, the user terminal 202 can be configured tocommunicate with the central status tracking system 204 via acommunication system or network 205. The communication system or network205 can be configured to communicate signals and can comprise, forexample, a local area network (LAN), a wide are network (WAN), theinternet, a cell phone network, a telecommunications network, Wi-Fi, orany other communication system.

The extended status tracking system 200 can comprise a payment terminal206. The payment terminal 206 can comprise any device capable ofallowing communication between a payment entity and the central statustracking system 204. In some embodiments, the payment terminal 206 cancomprise, for example, a device comprising a processor such as apersonal computer, a laptop computer, smart phone, a cell phone, atablet, or any other device including a processor. As also depicted inFIG. 2, the payment terminal 206 can be configured to communicate withthe central status tracking system 204 via the communication system ornetwork 205.

The central status tracking system 204 can comprise a variety ofcomponents and modules capable of performing a variety of functions. Thecentral status tracking system 204 can comprise a plurality ofcomponents and/or modules which are physically and/or functionallyinterconnected, and configured to communicate with each other torequest, process, and receive information. In some embodiments, thecentral status tracking system 204 can comprise a stand-alone systemcapable of performing all of the functions of its specific componentsand/or modules, and in some embodiments, the central status trackingsystem 204 can be configured to interact with another or a pre-existingsystem. In some embodiments in which the central status tracking system204 interacts with another or a pre-existing system, the modules and/orcomponents of the central status tracking system 204 can request and/orreceive information from the other and/or pre-existing system. Thus, insome embodiments, the modules and/or components of the central statustracking system 204 can be configured to perform a task, or to requestand/or receive information from another system, component, and/or modulerelating to a task.

The central status tracking system 204 can be configured to receiveinputs from components of the extended status tracking system 200 thatare not included in the central status tracking system 204, to provideinformation to these components, and to perform label generation, labelstatus management, and transact payment. In some embodiments thecomponents and modules of the central status tracking system 204 can becommunicatingly connected via a communication feature 207. Thecommunication feature 207 can comprise any feature capable ofestablishing a communicating connection between the features and modulesof the central status tracking system 204 and can include, for example,a wired or wireless device, a BUS, a communications network, or anyother suitable feature.

In some embodiments, the central status tracking system 204 cancomprise, for example, a processor 208. The processor 208 may comprise asingle processor, or may be a component of a processing systemimplemented with one or more processors. The one or more processors 208may be implemented with any combination of general-purposemicroprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs),field programmable gate array (FPGAs), programmable logic devices(PLDs), controllers, state machines, gated logic, discrete hardwarecomponents, dedicated hardware finite state machines, or any othersuitable entities that can perform calculations or other manipulationsof information. The processor 208 can comprise, for example, amicroprocessor, such as a Pentium® processor, a Pentium® Pro processor,a 8051 processor, a MIPS® processor, a Power PC® processor, an Alpha®processor, or the like. The processor 208 typically has conventionaladdress lines, conventional data lines, and one or more conventionalcontrol lines.

The processor 208 can be in communicating connection with memory 210. Insome embodiments, the memory 210 can be physically located at and/or inthe central status tracking system 204, and in some embodiments, thememory can be remote from the central status tracking system 204.

The memory 210 can include, for example, RAM memory, flash memory, ROMmemory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removabledisk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art.The memory can include, for example, software, at least one softwaremodule, instructions, steps of an algorithm, or any other information.In some embodiments, the processor 208 can perform processes inaccordance with instruction stored in the memory 210. These processescan include, for example, controlling features and/or components of thecentral status tracking system 204, requesting and/or receivinginformation from features and/or components of the central statustracking system 204, requesting and/or receiving information fromfeatures and/or components of the extended status tracking system 200,transmitting instructions and/or control signals to features and/orcomponents of the central status tracking system 204, requestinginformation from an administrator, transmitting information to theadministrator, processing information received from features and/orcomponents of the central status tracking system 204, processinginformation received from features and/or components of the extendedstatus tracking system 200, processing information received from theadministrator, and/or any other desired processes.

In some embodiments, the memory 210 can comprise one or severaldatabases. The database can comprise an organized collection of digitaldata. The data stored in the database can comprise any desired data, andcan, in some embodiments, relate to functions of the extended statustracking system 200 and/or the central status tracking system 204.

In some embodiments, and as depicted in FIG. 2, the memory 210 comprisesa plurality of databases, and specifically provides a label database212, a user database 214, and a payment database 216. In someembodiments, the label database 212 can comprise, for example,information relating to the label 102. This information can include, forexample, data relating to the existence of the label 102, the status ofthe label 102, the properties of the label 102, the identification ofthe label 102, the association of the label 102 with a user and/or auser account, or any other desired information.

In some embodiments, the label database 212 can be located at and/or inthe central status tracking system 204, and in some embodiments, thelabel database 212 can be remote from the central status tracking system204. In some embodiments, the label database 212 can exist within apre-existing system, and can include information relating to labels thatare compatible with the central status tracking system 204, and/orinformation relating to labels that are noncompatible with the centralstatus tracking system 204. In some embodiments, for example, a labelcan be compatible with the central status tracking system 204 when thelabel is generated by an associated user account. In some embodiments,for example, the label database 212 can include information relating toevery scan generated by a service provider, such as, for example, everyscan of a mail piece collected by a postal service.

In some embodiments the label status information stored in the labeldatabase 212 can indicate a label status including, for example,printed, expired, pending induction, payment due, refund, or any otherdesired status. In some embodiments, the printed status can beassociated with a label 102 for which information has been provided tothe user terminal 202; the expired status can be associated with a label102 whose information was not received by the central status trackingsystem 204 within a designated time period; the pending induction statuscan be associated with a label 102 that has been added to the paymentsheet 150 but whose information has not been received by the centralstatus tracking system 204; the payment due status can be associatedwith a label 102 whose information has be received by the central statustracking system 204 and for which payment has not been received; and therefund status can be associated with a label 102 for which payment wasimproperly received, for which unsatisfactory services were provided, orfor which paid money should be refunded.

In some embodiments, the user database 214 can comprise informationrelating to the user and/or the user account. In some embodiments, thisinformation can include, for example, account information such as anaccount number, a user name, a password, or any other accountidentification and/or verification information. In some embodiments, theuser database 214 can comprise information relating to the accountstatus, including, for example account usage, account payments due,account payments pending, account payments received, requested label102, expired labels 102, inducted labels 102, frequent recipients,frequent label types or label information, or any other desiredinformation.

In some embodiments, the payment database 216 can comprise paymentinformation. In some embodiments, this information can include, forexample, an identifier associating payment information with a useraccount, account payment information, payment source, payment protocols,and/or any other desired payment information. The account paymentinformation can include any information relating to the payment statusof a user account, such as, for example, the amount of payment due, pastpayments made, and any other historic, current, or projected financialinformation. The payment source can include, for example, identificationof a source for payment, such as, for example, a bank, a credit card, apayment service, or any other source from which payment can be received.In some embodiments, the payment protocols can include instructions orinformation that facilitates requesting and receiving payment from apayment source. In some embodiments these protocols can include, forexample, a verification number, a place or method for submitting apayment request, a time interval for making payment, or any otherinstructions or information that facilitates requesting and receivingpayment.

The central status tracking system 204 can, in some embodiments,comprise a communications module 218 that can be communicatinglyconnected to the processor 208. In some embodiments, the communicationsmodule 218 can be configured to communicate with other extended statustracking system 200 entities, such as, for example, the user terminal202 and the payment terminal 206. In some embodiments, thecommunications module 218 can be configured for wired or wirelesscommunications, and can be configured to request information and receiveinputs from the user terminal 202, the payment terminal 206, and/orcomponents or modules of the central status tracking system 204.

The central status tracking system 204 can, in some embodiments,comprise a plurality of modules, which modules can be embodied inhardware or software, and which can comprise a single piece or hardwareor software or systems of hardware of software. In some embodiments,these modules can be configured to receive or generate inputs for thecentral status tracking system 204. In one embodiment, and as depictedin FIG. 2, the central status tracking system 204 can comprise aplurality of modules, and can specifically comprise an administratormodule 220, a scanning module 222, a tracking module 224, a securitymodule 226, and an aggregation module 228.

In some embodiments, the administrator module 220 can comprise anadministrator access point. In some embodiments, the administratoraccess point can comprise any device, software, or feature capable orrequesting and receiving information from the central status trackingsystem 204 and providing inputs to the central status tracking system204. In some embodiments, the administrator access point can comprise aterminal and/or an access portal. In some embodiments, the administratorterminal can comprise any device capable or requesting and receivinginformation from the central status tracking system 204 and providinginputs to the central status tracking system 204. In some embodiments,the administrator terminal can comprise any device capable of allowingan administrator to communicate with a central status tracking system204. In some embodiments, the administrator terminal can comprise, forexample, a device comprising a processor such as, for example, apersonal computer, a laptop computer, Smartphone, a cell phone, atablet, or any other device including a processor. In some embodiments,the access portal can comprise a web portal, or any other softwareconfigured to allow an administrator to access information from thecentral status tracking system 204.

In some embodiments, the administrator access point can be configured toprovide an administrator information relating to, for example, thehistory of the extended status tracking system 200, the history of thecentral status tracking system 204, statistical and/or financialreports, and payment information. In some embodiments, the statisticalreports can include, for example, use statistics for the labels 102, forthe extended and/or central status tracking systems 200, 204, forshipping, for one or several user accounts, and/or for any other desiredtopic. In some embodiments, the financial reports can relate to costs ofoperating the extended status tracking system 200, costs of operatingthe central status tracking system 204, revenues from the use of theextended and/or central status tracking systems 200, 204, profits forthe extended and/or central status tracking systems 200, 204, and/or anyother desired financial report. The payment information can relate to,for example, outstanding bills, paid bills, requested refunds, disputedbills, and or any other payment related information. A person of skillin the art will recognize that the administrator and the administratormodule 220 is not limited to the specific functions and featuresdiscussed above, but that it can have more or fewer features andfunctions, and can include different combinations of the above outlined,and/or additional features and functions.

In some embodiments, the scanning module 222 can comprise a devicecapable of reading, scanning, and/or receiving information from thelabel 102. In some embodiments, the scanning module 222 can comprisecomponents configured to request and/or receive information from othersystems relating to labels scanned in other systems. Thus, in someembodiments in which a label is scanned by a service provider that isnot associated with the central status tracking system 204, the scanningmodule 222 can be configured to request and/or receive informationrelating to these scanned labels. In some embodiments, this scannedinformation can be pushed to the central status tracking system 204 bythe other system, and/or, this scanned information can be requested bythe central status tracking system 204. In some embodiments, thisrequest and/or receipt of information can occur at regular timeintervals, in response to a prompt, and/or in response to a user input.Thus, the central status tracking system 204 can, for example, cooperatewith a foreign postal authority to receive label information that isscanned in, for example, a foreign country.

In some embodiments, the scanning module 222 can comprise, for example,a scanner, a reader, a detector, an interrogator, or any other featureconfigured to read, scan, and/or receive information from the label 102.In some embodiments the scanning module 222 can comprise a systemincluding one or several devices capable of reading, scanning, and/orreceiving information from a label 102, one or several processors,memory, a communications network, and/or any other desired feature. Asdepicted in FIG. 2, the scanning module 222 can be in communicatingconnection with other features of the central status tracking system204, including, for example, the processor 208.

In some embodiments, the scanning module 222 can be configured to read,scan, and/or receive information from the label 102 at some time afterthe label 102 has been delivered by the user to the service provider. Insome embodiments, and as discussed above, the user can deliver the label102 to the service provider so that the service provider can providerequested services such as delivering the label 102 and/or the item 100.

In some embodiments, this information can be, for example, convertedinto digital form by the scanning module and sent to the processor 208and/or any other desired component of the central status tracking system204.

The scanning module 222 can be configured to read and/or receiveinformation from the label 102 at different points in a process. In someembodiments, for example, the scanning module 222 can be configured toread, scan, and/or receive information from the label 102 at the timethe label 102 is delivered to the service provider. In some embodiments,the scanning module 222 can be configured to read, scan, and/or receiveinformation from the label 102 after the time the label 102 is deliveredto the service provider. In some embodiments, the scanning module 222can be configured to read, scan, and/or receive information from thelabel 102 while a process is being performed on the label 102 and/or theobject 104 associated with the label 102. In some embodiments, thescanning module 222 can be configured to read, scan, and/or receiveinformation from the label 102 before the label 102 and/or the object104 associated with the label 102 is removed from processing, such aswhen the label 102 and/or object 104 associated with the label 102 isdelivered by a postal authority to a designated recipient. Thus, in someembodiments, the scanning module 222 can be configured to read, scan,and/or receive information from the label 102 at any time that the label102 is in the possession of the service provider after the label 102and/or the object 104 associated with the label 102 has been deliveredto the service provider, including before, during, or after processingof the label 102 and/or the associated object 104.

In some embodiments, the tracking module 224 can comprise, for example,a system of one or several sensors, a database, and a processorconfigured to receive data relating to the label 102 and to trackprocessing performed in accordance with the data relating to the label102. In some embodiments, the data relating to the label 102 can becompiled from the label 102. In some specific embodiments, the datarelating to the label 102 can be compiled, for example, into a manifestlisting the label 102 and any required processing associated with thelabel 102. The manifest can be used to facilitate organization andtracking of a plurality of labels 102, and thus, in some embodiments,information relating to a plurality of labels 102 can be compiled intothe manifest.

In some embodiments, the security module 226 can comprise, for example,features and components configured to detect and prevent fraud. In someembodiments, the security module 226 can prevent fraudulent payments,fraudulent label requests, erroneous label requests, and or any otherdesired function.

In some embodiments, the security module 226 can provide securitybenefits to the user, and in some embodiments, the security module 226can provide security benefits for the operator of the extended statustracking system 200. In some embodiments, the security module 226 can beconfigured to prevent fraud associated with a user account, such as, forexample, the use of labels associated with an invalid user account,payment fraud, such as, for example, the use of a stolen credit card orpayment information to transact a payment, and to prevent label fraud,such as, for example, photocopying and/or reusing a single label.

In one embodiment in which the security module 226 is configured toprevent improper object 104 labeling, the security module 226 cancomprise sampling features configured to sample all or a portion oflabels 102 to determine if the sampled labels 102 include properinformation. This sampling can detect erroneous labeling, such as whenthe payment amount associated with the label 102 is insufficient tocover the requested services, fraudulent labeling such as when a usersystematically improperly labels objects 103, or any other improperlabeling practice. In some embodiments, the sampling can detect thepayment specified by the label 102, the services requested by the label102, and label and/or object attributes to determine the proper paymentamount. In some embodiments, the security module can compare thecalculated payment amount with the payment amount indicated by the label102 and determine if the label 102 was improper. In some embodiments,the security module 226 can determine that labeling is improper when thepayment indicated by the label is more than approximately 10 percentdifferent from the proper payment amount, more that approximately 5percent different from the proper payment amount, more thanapproximately 2 percent different from the proper payment amount, morethan approximately 1 percent different from the proper payment amount,more than approximately 0.5 percent different from the proper paymentamount, or more than any other desired difference between the calculatedpayment amount and the payment amount indicated by the label 102. Aperson of skill in the art will recognize that the security module 226can comprise a variety of features and perform a variety of functions,and that the security module is not limited to the above enumeratedfeatures and functions.

In some embodiments, the security module 226 can be configured toprovide information to the processor 208, which can, based oninstructions found in the memory 210, determine a fraudulent event, andtake action to mitigate any loss associated with the fraudulent event.In some embodiments, this loss mitigation can include, for example,notifying a customer of fraudulent activity, notifying a paymentinstitution of fraudulent activity, notifying an item recipient offraudulent activity, requesting payment from an account holder and/orfrom a recipient, seizing the item associated with the fraud, and/or anyother desired action.

In some embodiments of a central status tracking system 204 in which thecentral status tracking system 204 cooperates with other systems torequest and receive information, the aggregation module 228 can beconfigured to request and/or receive this information from the othersystems. In some specific embodiments, for example, the aggregationmodule 228 can be configured to query memory and/or a database that isnot part of the central status tracking system 204 for informationrelating to, for example, a scan event, a user account, paymentinformation, security information, and/or any other desired information.In some embodiments, the aggregation module 228 can be configured tosort information from the memory and/or a database that is not part ofthe central status tracking system 204 to determine whether theinformation in the memory and/or database not associated with thecentral status tracking system 204 relates to labels that are compatiblewith the central status tracking system 204. In some embodiments, thisinformation can be collected from the memory and/or a database that isnot associated with the central status tracking system at a regularinterval, in response to a prompt and/or user request, or in any otherdesired fashion.

A person of skill in the art will recognize that the extended statustracking system 200 and/or the central status tracking system 204 cancomprise more or fewer features, components, and/or modules than thoseoutlined above, and can be capable of performing more of fewer functionsthan those outlined above.

Operation of the Status Tracking System

The extended status tracking system 200 and the central status trackingsystem 204 can be used in connection with the label 102 to track thelabel 102.

FIG. 3 is a flow-chart illustrating one embodiment of a tracking process300 for tracking the status of a label 102. In some embodiments, theprocess 300 is performed by the central status tracking system 204. Theprocess begins at block 302 and moves to block 304 where a request isreceived for an electronic version of the label 102. In someembodiments, the electronic version of the label 102 corresponds to thelabel 102 in digital format. In response, the electronic version of thelabel 102 is provided. In some embodiments in which the tracking process300 is being performed by the central status tracking system 204, therequest for the electronic version of the label 102 can be, for example,received by the central status tracking system 204, and specificallyreceived by the communications module 218 of the central status trackingsystem 204. In some embodiments, the electronic version of the label 102can be provided by the central status tracking system 204, andspecifically by the communications module 218 of the central statustracking system 204 to the user terminal 202.

The process 304 then proceeds to block 306 wherein the central statustracking system 204 identifies the label status in the label database212. In some embodiments, the label status can be identified in thelabel database 212 of the central status tracking system 204 by addingan identifier indicating the label status to the label database 212.

The process 300 proceeds to block 308 and transacts payment. In someembodiments, payment can be transacted in response to the inclusion ofan identifier in the label database 212 identifying a specified labelstatus. In some embodiments, the payment can be transacted between thecentral status tracking system 204 and the payment terminal 206.

After payment is transacted in block 308, the process 300 terminates atblock 310. A person of skill in the art will recognize that the trackingprocess 300 for tracking a label 102 can include some or all of theabove discussed steps, as well as steps additional to the aboverequested steps. A person of skill in the art will further recognizethat the tracking process 300 for tracking a label 102 can include theabove listed steps performed in any order, including in an orderdifferent than that shown above.

FIG. 3a is a flow-chart illustrating one embodiment of a process 350using the user terminal 202 to interact with the central status trackingsystem 204 to create and use a label. The process 350 begins at block352 when the user terminal 202 requests an electronic version of thelabel 102 from the central status tracking system 204. In someembodiments, information for inclusion in the label 102 can be submittedto the central status tracking system 204 with the request for theelectronic version of the label 102. In some embodiments, theinformation submitted with the request for the electronic version of thelabel 102 can be used to at least partially generate the electronicversion of the label 102. In some embodiments, the submitted informationcan include an origination address and/or a destination address. In someembodiments, information submitted with the request for the electronicversion of the label 102 can include an object description, including adescription of the nature of the object, of the size of the object, ofthe weight of the object, or of any other attribute of the object 104.In some embodiments, the information submitted with the request for theelectronic version of the label 102 can include, for example,information relating to requested services, such as a class of services,a time period for providing services, insurance, service tracking,confirmation of completion of performance of requested services, or anyother service request or designation. In some embodiments, the requestfor the electronic version of the label 102 can include pricinginformation for the requested services, customs information to allowproviding services across national boundaries, or any other desiredinformation. A person of skill in the art will recognize that a varietyof information can be provided with the request for the electronicversion of the label 102, and that the present disclosure is not limitedto the above specifically enumerated types of information that can beprovided with the request for the electronic version of the label 102.

After the request for the electronic version of the label 102, theprocess 350 moves to block 354 and the user terminal 202 providesaccount information to the central status tracking system 204. In someembodiments, the account information can be stored in the memory of theuser terminal 202, or can be provided to the user terminal 202 by theuser. In some embodiments, this account information can include, forexample, a user name, a password, an account number, or any otherinformation that identifies the user account.

After the account information is provided to the central status trackingsystem 204 in block 354, the process 350 moves to block 356 and the userterminal 202 receives the electronic version of the label 102. In someembodiments, the electronic version of the label 102 can be receivedfrom the central status tracking system 204, and can include some or allof the information that was submitted with the request for theelectronic version of the label 102 and/or information generated bycentral status tracking system 204.

After the electronic version of the label 102 is received in block 356,the process 350 moves to block 358 and the user terminal 202 creates thephysical label 102. In some embodiments, the user terminal 202 cancreate the physical label 102 by printing the physical label 102, and/orby directing the printing of the physical label.

After the label 102 is created in block 358, the process 350 moves toblock 310 and the user terminal 202 requests generation of theelectronic version of the payment sheet 150 and then receives theelectronic version of the payment sheet 150 from the central statustracking system 204. In some embodiments, the electronic version of thepayment sheet 150 can comprise the digitized version of the paymentsheet 150.

The payment sheet 150 can include information relating to one or severallabels 102, and information, such as information that uniquelyidentifies the payment sheet 150. In some embodiments, the centralstatus tracking system 204 can query the label database 212 for labelinformation in response to the request for generation of the electronicversion of the payment sheet 150. In some embodiments, the user canselect which label information will be included in the electronicversion of the payment sheet 150. In such an embodiment, the centralstatus tracking system 204 requests the user to select label informationfor inclusion in the payment sheet 150 and the user selects labelinformation for inclusion in the payment sheet 150.

In some embodiments, information relating to the one or several labels102 for inclusion in the payment sheet 150 is submitted with the requestfor the generation of the payment sheet 150, and in some embodiments,the information relating to the one or several labels 102 for inclusionin the payment sheet 150 is generated by the central status trackingsystem 204.

In some embodiments, after the central status tracking system 204 hasgenerated the electronic version of the payment sheet 150, theelectronic version of the payment sheet 150 can be received by the userterminal 202.

After the request for generation of the payment sheet 150 and thereceipt of the electronic version of the payment sheet 150 in block 360,the process 350 moves to block 362 and the user terminal 202 creates thephysical version payment sheet 150. In some embodiments, the physicalversion of the payment sheet 150 can be created by, for example,printing the physical version of the payment sheet 150.

After the physical version of the payment sheet 150 is created in block362, the process 350 moves to block 634 and the label 102 is deliveredto the service provider. In some embodiments, the delivery of the label102 to the service provider can correspond to the delivery of the label102, or the object 104 bearing the label 102 to the service provider. Insome embodiments, the service provider can include a postal authority.

After the label 102 is delivered in block 362, the process 350 moves toblock 366 and receives the payment request and/or request for otheraction, including, for example, a notification of the completion of theproviding of the requested services, a prompt for further input, or anyother action, from the central status tracking system 204. In someembodiments, the payment request may be received directly at the userterminal 202, and in some embodiments, the payment request may bereceived at the payment terminal 206.

After the payment request is received in block 366, the process 350moves to block 368 and the payment is transacted. In some embodiments,the payment can be transacted between the payment terminal 206 and thecentral status tracking system 204. In some embodiments, transactingpayment in the central status tracking system 204 may comprise receivinga down payment, installment payments, or the like. For example, a firstpercentage of the payment may be required when the label is requested,such as following blocks 352 and 354. In some embodiments, the process300 may not continue until the first percentage payment is received. Insome embodiments, a second percentage of the payment may be requestedand made following delivery of the label, such as after block 364. Afterthe payment has been transacted, the process 350 terminates at block370. A person of skill in the art will recognize that the process 350for tracking a label 102 can include some or all of the above discussedsteps, as well as steps additional to the above requested steps. Aperson of skill in the art will further recognize that the process 350for tracking a label 102 can include the above listed steps performed inany order, including in an order different than that shown above.

FIG. 3b is a flow-chart illustrating one embodiment of a process 380 forusing a central status tracking system to provide integral delivery andreturn service. In some embodiments, for example, the process 380 can beused in connection with a return service, such as, for example,providing a simple method of return for a purchased item. In someembodiments, the process 380 can be used in connection with a servicesold with a product, such as, for example, a shipping service integrallyassociated with a purchased item.

In some embodiments in which the process 380 is used in connection witha return service, a label 102 can be generated and included with apurchased item. In the event that the purchaser wishes to return theitem, the label 102 can be used to provide payment for the returnservice.

In some embodiments in which the process 380 is used in connection witha service sold with a product, the sold product can include the label102. In the event that the service associated with the sold product isused, the label 102 can be used to provide payment for the associatedservice. By way of example, a card, such as, for example, a get-wellcard, may bear a label 102 that can be used to provide payment for adesignated delivery service. In some embodiments, the cost of the cardcan be adjusted to include the cost of the designated delivery service.In such an embodiment, a purchaser would not need to purchase separatepostage to mail the card, but could rather use the label 102 to providepayment for the delivery service.

Referring again to FIG. 3b , the process 380 begins at block 382 and thecentral status tracking system 204 generates label informationassociated with a service. In some embodiments, the generation of theelectronic version of the label 102 can include, for example, formattinginformation received from the user terminal 202, including informationreceived from the user terminal 202 with the request for the electronicversion of the label 102. Generation of the electronic version of thelabel 102 can also include converting information received from the userterminal 202, including information received from the user terminal 202with the request for the electronic version of the label 102, intocomputer readable coding, and/or verifying destination address, price,class requests, and service requests. In some embodiments, thegeneration of the electronic version of the label 102 can furthercomprise generating information that uniquely identifies the useraccount associated with the label 102 and/or uniquely identifies thelabel 102. In some embodiments, the information that uniquely identifiesthe user account and/or uniquely identifies the label 102 can beconverted to any desired format including, for example, text, textstring, computer readable code, or any other format.

In some embodiments, the generation of the electronic version of thelabel 102 can further comprise, for example, formatting the electronicversion of the label 102 so that it is in the desired format.

The process 380 then proceeds to block 384 and the central statustracking system 204 adds the generated label information and anidentifier of a first label status to a first database. In someembodiments, the first label status corresponds to the generation of theelectronic version of the label 102, and can, for example, be a statusindicating the existence of the electronic version of the label 102.

The process 380 then proceeds to block 386 and the central statustracking system 204 determines the cost associated with the requestedservice. In some embodiments, this cost can be an actual cost, anaverage cost, and/or an estimated cost. In some embodiments, forexample, when all of the variables associated with the requested serviceare known, the cost can be an actual cost. Thus, for example, inembodiments in which the item weight, size, the shipping distance, andthe requested shipping service are known, such as, when an item of knownphysical properties is being sent from a known induction point to aknown delivery point, the cost can be the exact cost. Such an embodimentmay, for example, occur with the returning of a purchased item.

In some embodiments in which some or all of the variables associatedwith the requested service are not known, and in which no data exists asto past provided services, the cost can comprise an estimated cost.Advantageously, the use of labels 102 compatible with the central statustracking system 204 can allow the collection of information relating tothe provided services, such as, for example, the physical properties ofa shipped item and the shipping services. This information can becollected and used to update the estimated costs to more accuratelyreflect the actual costs associated with the provided service.

In some embodiments in which some or all of the variables associatedwith the requested services are not known, and in which data existsrelating to past provided services, the cost can comprise an averageexpected cost based on past provided services. As with the estimatedcosts, the average cost can be updated based on information collected bythe central status tracking system 204 to more accurately reflect thecost of provided services.

After the cost associated with the requested services is determined, theprocess 380 proceeds to block 388 and the central status tracking system204 associates the cost information with the label information. In someembodiments, for example, the cost information can be associated withthe label information by inputting an indicator of the cost informationinto the first database.

The process 380 then proceeds to block 390 and the central statustracking system 204 receives an indicator of a status change of thelabel 102. In some embodiments, this indication of the label statuschange can originate from one of the modules of the central statustracking system 204, including, for example, the scanning module 222. Insome embodiments, the indication of a label status change can comprisean electronic signal communicated from the scanning module 222 to theprocessor 208 of the central status tracking system 204 indicating thatthe label 102 has been delivered to the service provider and has beenread, scanned, and or received by the scanning module 222. The processor208 can, in some embodiments, receive this signal and identify the label102 corresponding to the signal and the label status changecorresponding to the signal.

The process 380 then proceeds to block 392 and the central statustracking system 204 updates the label status in the first database toreflect the changed label status. In some embodiments in which thechange in label status corresponds to the providing of services or tothe receipt of a label 102 for providing service, the update of thelabel status in the first database can trigger payment processes.

If the change in the label status triggers the start of a paymenttransaction, then the process 380 proceeds to block 394 and the centralstatus tracking system 204 retrieves the cost information associatedwith the label 102. The process 380 then proceeds to block 396 andcentral status tracking system 204 requests payment. The process 380then terminates at block 398.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating another embodiment of a process 400for tracking a status of a label. In some embodiments the status of thelabel 102 can change during the tracking, which status change cantrigger the performance of an act by the central status tracking system204. In one embodiment, the change in the status of the label 102, suchas when the label 102 is received by the service provider or when theservice provider provides the requested services, can trigger a paymenttransaction. The process 400 depicted in FIG. 4 is similar to theprocess depicted in FIG. 3, but includes additional and different stepsthan depicted in FIG. 3.

The process 400 begins at block 402 and proceeds to block 404 where thecentral status tracking system 204 identifies the user. The user can beidentified based on information submitted by the user terminal 202 tothe central status tracking system 204. This submitted information cancomprise a variety of information types. In some embodiments, thesubmitted information can include identification indicia such as, forexample, a username, a password, an account number, or any otheridentifier.

The tracking process 400 then proceeds to block 406 where the centralstatus tracking system 204 receives a request for the electronic versionof the label 102 from the user terminal 202 and provides electronicversion of the label 102 to the user terminal 202. In some embodimentsthe request for the electronic version of the label 102 can be receivedby the communications module 218 of the central status tracking system204. In some embodiments, the electronic version of the label 102 can beprovided to the user terminal by the communications module 218 of thecentral status tracking system 204.

The tracking process 400 then proceeds to block 408 where the centralstatus processing system 204 identifies a first label status in thelabel database 212. In some embodiments, the first label statuscorresponds to the generation of the electronic version of the label102, and can, for example, a status indicating the existence of theelectronic version of the label 102.

The tracking process 400 then proceeds to block 410 where the processor208 of the central status tracking system 204 receives an indication ofa label status change. In some embodiments, this indication of the labelstatus change can originate from one of the modules of the centralstatus tracking system 204, including, for example, the scanning module222. In some embodiments, the indication of a label status change cancomprise an electronic signal communicated from the scanning module 222to the processor 208 of the central status tracking system 204indicating that the label 102 has been delivered to the service providerand has been read, scanned, and or received by the scanning module 222.The processor 208 can, in some embodiments, receive this signal andidentify the label 102 corresponding to the signal and the label statuschange corresponding to the signal.

The tracking process 400 then proceeds to block 412 where the secondlabel status, corresponding to the change in the label status, isidentified in the first database. In some embodiments, this change inlabel status can be identified in a first database associated with thecentral status tracking system 204, and in some embodiments, this changein label status can be identified in a first database that is accessibleby the aggregation module 228.

In embodiments in which the change in the label status corresponds tothe delivery of the label 102 to the service provider and the providingof requested services, the status change may trigger, for example, thestart of a payment transaction. If the change in the label statustriggers the start of a payment transaction, then the process 400proceeds to block 414 where payment is transacted. The tracking process400 then terminates at block 416. A person of skill in the art willrecognize that the tracking process 400 for tracking a label 102 caninclude some or all of the above discussed steps, as well as stepsadditional to the above requested steps. A person of skill in the artwill further recognize that the tracking process 400 for tracking alabel 102 can include the above listed steps performed in any order,including in an order different than that shown above.

FIG. 5 is a flow-chart illustrating one embodiment of the process foridentifying a user defined by block 404 of FIG. 4. The process 500begins at block 502 and proceeds to block 504 wherein useridentification information is requested. In some embodiments, thecentral status tracking system 204 can request user identificationinformation from the user terminal 202. In some embodiments, the requestfor user identification information can be in response to a signalreceived from user terminal 202.

The process 500 then moves to block 506 wherein user identificationinformation is requested from the user terminal 202. As discussed above,the user identification information can comprise any information thatidentifies a user and/or a user account. As also discussed above, thisinformation can be provided by the user and/or can be stored on the userterminal 202 or other user accessible computing and/or storage device.In some embodiments, this information is received by the central statustracking system 204 from the user terminal 202, and can, in someembodiments, be received by the communications module 218 of the centralstatus tracking system 204 from the user terminal 202.

The process 500 then proceeds to block 508 where the user and/or useraccount is matched with the received user information. In someembodiments, the processor 208 can receive the user identificationinformation from the user terminal 202 via the communications module218. In some embodiments, the processor 208 can query the user database214 to determine if the received user information matches any of thestored information identifying a user and/or a user account. In someembodiments, the processor 208 can query the user database 214 for userand/or user account information. Once the processor 208 has received theuser and/or user account information from the user database 214, theprocessor 208 matches the user and/or user account information from theuser database 214 with the information received from the user terminal202. If the information received from the user terminal 202 matchesinformation received from the user database 214, then the processor 208identifies a user and/or user account and proceeds to block 406 of FIG.4. If the information received from the user terminal 202 does not matchinformation retrieved from the user database 214, then the process canterminate at block 510, or can direct the user to open a new useraccount (not depicted).

A person of skill in the art will recognize that the process 500 foridentifying a user can include some or all of the above discussed steps,as well as steps additional to the above requested steps. A person ofskill in the art will further recognize that the tracking process 500for identifying a user can include the above listed steps performed inany order, including in an order different than that shown above.

FIG. 6 is a flow-chart illustrating one embodiment of a process forreceiving a request for label information at the central status trackingsystem 204 and for providing label information to the user terminal 202as defined in block 406 of FIG. 4. The process 600 begins at block 602and proceeds to block 604 wherein a request is received for theelectronic version of the label 102. As discussed, this request canoriginate at the user terminal 202 and can be communicated to thecentral status tracking system 204. In some embodiments, this requestcan be communicated to the central status tracking system 204 via thecommunication system or network 205. In some embodiments, the requestcan be received from the user terminal 202 by the central statustracking system 204 at the communications module 218 and communicated tothe processor 208. In some embodiments, this request for the electronicversion of the label 102 can be made in response to a prompt from theuser terminal 202 and/or the central status tracking system 204 for sucha request.

In some embodiments, the request for the electronic version of the label102 can include information for inclusion on the electronic version ofthe label 102. In some embodiments, for example, a request for theelectronic version of the label 102 can include a submission of anorigination address and/or a destination address. In some embodiments,for example, the request for the electronic version of the label 102 caninclude an object description, including description of the nature ofthe object, of the size of the object, of the weight of the object, orof any other attribute of the object 104. In some embodiments, therequest for the electronic version of the label 102 can include, forexample, information relating to requested services, such as a class ofservices, a time period for providing services, insurance, servicetracking, confirmation of completion of performance of requestedservices, or any other service request or designation. In someembodiments, the request for label information can include pricinginformation for the requested services, customs information to allowproviding services across national boundaries, or any other desiredinformation. A person of skill in the art will recognize that a varietyof information can be provided with the label request, and that thepresent disclosure is not limited to the above specifically enumeratedtypes of information that can be provided with the request for labelinformation.

After the request for the electronic version of the label 102 has beenreceived by the central status tracking system 204, the process 600proceeds to decision state 606 wherein a determination is made as towhether the user account is in good standing. In some embodiments, thisdetermination can include, for example, the central status trackingsystem 204 querying the user database 214 and/or querying the paymentdatabase 216 for information relating to whether the user account isactive, whether the user account is current on outstanding payments,whether the balance of payments due is above some threshold, whether theaccount use is outside of some predetermine range, or any other desiredfactor. If the user account is not in good standing, the process 600terminates at block 608.

If the user account is in good standing, as determined by decision state606, then the process 600 moves to block 610 where the central statustracking system 204 generates the electronic version of the label 102.In some embodiments, the generation of the electronic version of thelabel 102 can include, for example, formatting information received fromthe user terminal 202, including information received from the userterminal 202 with the request for the electronic version of the label102, converting information received from the user terminal 202,including information received from the user terminal 202 with therequest for the electronic version of the label 102, into computerreadable coding, and/or verifying destination address, price, classrequests, and service requests. In some embodiments, the generation ofthe electronic version of the label 102 can further comprise generatinginformation that uniquely identifies the user account associated withthe label 102 and/or uniquely identifies the label 102. In someembodiments, the information that uniquely identifies the user accountand/or uniquely identifies the label 102 can be converted to any desiredformat including, for example, text, text string, computer readablecode, or any other format.

In some embodiments, the generation of the electronic version of thelabel 102 can further comprise, for example, formatting the electronicversion of the label 102 so that it is in the desired format.

After the label information is generated in block 610, the process 600proceeds to block 612 where the central status tracking system 204provides the electronic version of the label 102 to the user terminal202. In some embodiments, the electronic version of the label 102 can beprovided to the user in a variety of fashions, including, for example,by communicating the electronic version of the label 102 from thecentral status tracking system 204 to the user terminal 202. In someembodiments, the user can use the electronic version of the label 102information to create the physical version of the label 102 such as, forexample, by printing the physical version of the label 102, and, canattach the physical version of the label 102 to the object 104 such as,for example, by adhering the physical version of the label 102 to theobject 104 and/or by printing the physical version of the label 102 onthe object 104.

After the electronic version of the label 102 is provided to the userterminal in block 612, the process 600 moves to decision state 614wherein the central status tracking system 204 determines the number ofcreated labels. In some embodiments, a single label can be created at atime, and in some embodiments, multiple labels can be created at onetime.

After the number of created labels is determined, the process 600proceeds to decision state 616 and the central status tracking system204 determines if the number of created labels requires a payment sheet150. In some embodiments, a payment sheet 150 may be required if, forexample, more than one label is created at one time. Advantageously,requiring the use of a payment sheet 150 can facilitate the induction ofmultiple items.

If the central status tracking system 204 determines that the number oflabels does not require the creation of a payment sheet 150, then theprocess proceeds to decision state 618 and the central status trackingsystem 204 determines if the generation of the electronic version of thepayment sheet 150 is requested.

If the creation of the payment sheet 150 has not been requested, theprocess 600 moves to decision state 620 and the central status trackingsystem 204 determines whether to proceed. In some embodiments, thisdetermination can be made, for example, by prompting the user whether hewants to proceed, and proceeding based on the user input. If it isdetermined to not proceed, then the process 600 terminates at block 622.If it is determined to proceed, then the process 600 moves to block 630and proceeds to block 408 of FIG. 4.

Returning again to decision state 616, if it is determined that thenumber of created labels requires a payment sheet, then the process 600proceeds to block 624 and the processor 208 requests and receivesinformation for the generation of the electronic version of the paymentsheet 150. Similarly, if it is determined at decision state 618 that thecreation of the payment sheet is requested, the process 600 proceeds toblock 624 and the processor 208 requests and receives information forthe generation of the electronic version of the payment sheet 150.

In some embodiments, the information for the generation of theelectronic version of the payment sheet 150 can be requested from theuser terminal 202, or from one of the modules or database of the centralstatus tracking system such as the label database 212. In someembodiments, the requested information can comprise, for example, one orseveral electronic versions of the label 102 generated by the centralstatus tracking system 204.

After the process 600 requests and receives information for generationof the electronic version of the payment sheet 150, the process 600moves to block 626 where the central status tracking system 204generates the electronic version of the payment sheet 150.

In some embodiments, the generation of the electronic version of thepayment sheet 150 can include, for example, formatting information fromthe generated electronic versions of the labels 102, convertinginformation from the generated electronic versions of the labels 102into computer readable coding, and/or verifying destination address,price, class requests, and service requests. In some embodiments, thegeneration of the electronic version of the payment sheet 150 canfurther comprise generating information that uniquely identifies theuser account associated with the payment sheet 150 and/or uniquelyidentifies the payment sheet 150. In some embodiments, the informationthat uniquely identifies the user account and/or uniquely identifies thepayment sheet 150 can be converted to any desired format including, forexample, text, text string, computer readable code, or any other format.

After the electronic version of the payment sheet 150 is generated inblock 620, the process 600 moves to block 628 where the central statustracking system 204 provides the electronic version of the payment sheet150 to the user terminal 202. In some embodiments, the payment sheet 150can be provided to the user in a variety of ways, including, forexample, by communicating the payment sheet 150 information from thecentral status tracking system 204 to the user terminal 202. In someembodiments, the user can use the payment sheet 150 information toproduce the payment sheet 150 such as, for example, by printing thepayment sheet 150.

After the electronic version of the payment sheet 150 is provided by thecentral status tracking system 204 to the user terminal 202 in block628, then the process 600 proceeds to block 630 and continues at block408 of FIG. 4. A person of skill in the art will recognize that theprocess 600 for receiving a request for label information and forproviding label information can include some or all of the abovediscussed steps, as well as steps additional to the above requestedsteps. A person of skill in the art will further recognize that theprocess 600 for receiving a request for label information and forproviding label information can include the above listed steps performedin any order, including in an order different than that shown above.

FIG. 7 is a flow-chart illustrating one embodiment of a process forindicating label status in a first database as defined in blocks 408-412of FIG. 4. In some embodiments, and as depicted in FIG. 7, the process700 begins at block 704 after the generation of the electronic versionof the label 102, and the processor 208 adds an indication of thegeneration of the electronic version of the label to the label database212. In some embodiments, the indication of the generation of theelectronic version of the label 102 can include an indication of thetime and/or date of the generation of the electronic version of thelabel 102 to the label database 212. In some embodiments, thisindication can uniquely identify the created label 102, can identify theuser account, and/or provide any other desired information relating tothe label 102.

After the indication of the generation of the electronic version of thelabel 102 has been added to the label database 212 by the processor 208,the process 700 continues to decision state 706 where the processor 208determines if a designated time has passed since the generation of theelectronic version of the label 102. In some embodiments, the process700 can be configured such that a label status is provided for labels102 that have not been used within a designated time-frame. In someembodiments, it can be determined in decision state 706 whether thedesignate time frame has passed, and if the label status should beupdated to indicate that the designated time frame has passed. In someembodiments, the passing of the designated time frame can result in achange of the label status to cancelled and/or expired. If it isdetermined in decision state 706 that the designated time frame haspassed, then the process proceeds to decision state 708 and the centralstatus tracking system 204 determines if there is a valid accountassociated with the label.

In some embodiments, this determination can include querying the userdatabase 214 for information relating to the status of the user account.In some embodiments, this determination can include a query of otherportions of the memory 210. In some embodiments, this query can requestinformation relating to recent account activity, to payment information,or to any other indicators of a valid account.

If it is determined that the label 102 is associated with a validaccount, then the process 700 proceeds to block 710 and waits for thepassing of a designated time interval and then proceeds again todecision state 706. In some embodiments, this designated time intervalcan comprise any desired time interval from one or several fractions ofa second, to one or several months, or to one or several years.

Returning again to decision state 708, if it is determined that a validaccount is not associated with the label, then the process 700 proceedsto block 712 and the central status tracking system 204 updates thelabel status indicate it is to cancelled. In some embodiments, thisupdated status can be input into the label database 212. After the labelstatus has been updated, the process 700 terminates at block 714. Insome embodiments, the process 700 can return to block 414 of FIG. 4 andproceed as previously indicated after block 714

If the designated time frame has not passed since the generation of theelectronic version of the label 102, as determined in decision state706, the process 700 moves to decision state 716 and the processor 208determines if the label 102 has been added to the electronic version ofthe payment sheet 150. In some embodiments, and as discussed above,information relating to one or several labels 102 can be aggregated intoa single payment sheet 150.

If the label 102 and/or information relating to the label 102 has notbeen included in the payment sheet 150 as determined in decision state716, then the process 700 moves to decision state 718 and the processor208 determines if the generation of the electronic version of thepayment sheet 150 is required. In some embodiments, the label 102 isusable regardless of its inclusion in the payment sheet 150, and in someembodiments, the label 102 is only usable if it is included in thepayment sheet 150. If inclusion in the payment sheet 150 is required asdetermined by the processor at decision state 718, then the process 700moves to block 720 and waits for the passing of a designated timeinterval and then proceeds again to decision state 706. In someembodiments, this designated time interval can comprise, for example,one or several second, one or several minutes, one or several hours, oneor several days, one or several weeks, one or several months, and/or anyother desired time interval.

Returning again to decision state 716, if it is determined that thelabel 102 has been added to the payment sheet 150, then the process 700moves to block 722 and the processor 208 updates the label status inlabel database 212 to pending induction and/or pending delivery.

After the label status has been updated to pending induction in block722, or if it is determined that the payment sheet 150 is not requiredin decision state 718, then the process 700 moves to decision state 724and the processor determines if the label information has been receivedby the scanning module 222. As discussed above, after the user hasprinted the label 102, the label 102 can be attached to an object, andcan be received by the service provider for the performance of requestedservices. At some point after the label 102 has been received by theservice provider, the label 102 can be read by the scanning module 222.If the label 102 has not been read by the scanning module 222, then thelabel 102 has not been received and the process moves to block 720 andwaits for the passing of a designated time interval and then proceedsagain to decision state 706. In some embodiments, this designated timeinterval can comprise, for example, one or several second, one orseveral minutes, one or several hours, one or several days, one orseveral weeks, one or several months, and/or any other desired timeinterval.

If the label information has been read by the scanning module 222, thenthe label information has been received and the process moves to block726 where the label status is updated to payment due. In someembodiments, the label status can be updated in, for example, the labeldatabase 212. After the label status has been updated in block 726, theprocess 700 moves to block 728 and returns to the block 414 of process400 depicted FIG. 4, and continues as outlined above. A person of skillin the art will recognize that the process 700 for tracking a labelstatus can include some or all of the above discussed steps, as well assteps additional to the above requested steps. A person of skill in theart will further recognize that the process 700 for tracking a labelstatus in a database can include the above listed steps performed in anyorder, including in an order different than that shown above.

FIG. 8 is a flow-chart illustrating n embodiment of the process fortransacting payment as defined in 414 of FIG. 4. The process 800 beginsat decision state 802 where the processor 208 determines if the statusof the label 102 indicates that a payment is due. In some embodiments,and as discussed above, the label status is updated to indicate that apayment is due after the label information has been received by thecentral status tracking system 204. If it is determined in decisionstate 802 that the status of the label 102 does not indicate that apayment is due, then the process 800 terminates at block 804.

If it is determined in decision state 802 that the status of the label102 indicates that a payment is due, then the process 800 moves todecision state 806 and the processor 208 determines if the labelinformation that was received by the central status tracking system 204to cause the status of the label 102 to change to payment due wasreceived from the label 102. In some embodiments, label information canbe received form the payment sheet 150 and can cause the status of thelabel 102 to change to indicate that a payment is due and/or to triggera payment transaction. In some embodiments, receipt of the labelinformation from the payment sheet 150 can be sufficient to proceed withpayment transaction. In some embodiments, receipt of label informationfrom the payment sheet 150 may only be sufficient to proceed with apayment transaction if the label information has also been receiveddirectly from the label 102.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 8, if it is determined in decisionstate 806 that the label information was not received from the label102, then the process 800 terminates at block 804.

If it is determined that the label information was received from thelabel 102 in decision state 806, then the process 800 moves to block 808and the processor 208 updates the user account information with theamount of payment due. In some embodiments this information can be addedto a database such as, for example, the user database 214 and/or thepayment database 216.

After the user account information has been updated the user accountinformation with the amount of payment due in block 808, the processmoves to block 810 and the processor 208 queries the payment database216 for the payment information associated with the user account and/oruser associated with the label 102. In some embodiments, the databasecontaining payment information can comprise the payment database 216. Insome embodiments, the request for payment information can comprise arequest for information relating to the source of payment, such as, forexample, the name and/or identification of the financial institutionresponsible for payment, a routing number, an account number, averification number, an account holder name, and/or any otherinformation required to receive payment.

After the database containing the payment information has been queriedat block 810, the process 800 proceeds to decision state 812 and thecentral status tracking system 204 determines if the account associatedwith the label 102 is valid. In some embodiments, this determination caninclude querying the user database 214 for information relating to thestatus of the user account. In some embodiments, this determination caninclude a query of other portions of the memory 210. In someembodiments, this query can request information relating to recentaccount activity, to payment information, or to any other indicators ofa valid account.

If it is determined in decision state 812 that the label 102 is notassociated with a valid account, then the process 800 moves to block 814and proceeds with loss mitigation steps. In some embodiments, this lossmitigation can include, for example, notifying a customer of fraudulentactivity, notifying a payment institution of fraudulent activity,notifying an item recipient of fraudulent activity, requesting paymentfrom an account holder and/or from a recipient, seizing the itemassociated with the fraud, and/or any other desired action.

Returning again to decision state 812, if it is determined that thelabel 102 is associated with a valid account, then the process 800 movesto block 816 and payment is requested. This request can comprise acommunication to the payment terminal 206 from the central statustracking system 204.

After the payment has been requested at block 816, the process moves toblock 818 and payment is received.

The process then moves to block 820 and the central status trackingsystem 204 determines if the payment is timely. In some embodiments,this determination can be made by comparing information relating to whenthe payment was received with predetermined timeframes. In someembodiments, if payment is received within certain timeframes, then thepayment is timely. Similarly, in some embodiments, if payment is notreceived within certain timeframes, then the payment is untimely.

The process 800 then moves to block 822 and updates the label status andthe account information. In some embodiments, the label status can beupdated, for example, to the status “paid.” This update can be made, insome embodiments, by adding an identifier to a database indicative ofthe changed label status. In some embodiments, a status associated withthe account can be updated. This status can be updated by adding anidentifier to a database indicative of the changed account status. Insome embodiments in which the user database 214 includes informationrelating to outstanding payments associated with the user account, theuser database 214 can be updated to reflect the new balance ofoutstanding payments.

After the account information is updated in block 822, the process 800moves to block 824 and proceeds to block 416 if process 400 as depictedin FIG. 4 and continues as previously outlined. A person of skill in theart will recognize that the tracking process 800 for transacting paymentcan include some or all of the above discussed steps, as well as stepsadditional to the above requested steps. A person of skill in the artwill further recognize that the process 800 for transacting payment caninclude the above listed steps performed in any order, including in anorder different than that shown above.

FIG. 8a is a flow-chart illustrating one expanded embodiment of aprocess 840 for loss mitigation performed in block 814 of FIG. 8. Asdiscussed above, loss mitigation can include, for example, notifying acustomer of fraudulent activity, notifying a payment institution offraudulent activity, notifying an item recipient of fraudulent activity,requesting payment from an account holder and/or from a recipient,seizing the item associated with the fraud, and/or any other desiredaction. In some embodiments, loss mitigation can be performed by thecentral status tracking system 204, and/or other systems.

The process 840 begins at block 842 and the central status trackingsystem determines the location of the label 102. In some embodiments,this determination of the location of the label 102 can include, forexample, identifying the location of the most recent scan event, or byidentifying the most recent tracking information. This determination ofthe location of the label 102 can be made, for example, by querying thescanning module 222 for information relating to the scan event, queryingthe tracking module 224 for information relating to the most recenttracking information, or by querying the aggregation module 228 forinformation relating to scan events.

After the location of the label 102 is determined, the process 840proceeds to block 844 and the central status tracking system 204requests termination of the providing of any further services. In someembodiments, this request can comprise a communication and/or a signalindicating that services should no longer be provided for the designatedlabel 102. The process 840 then proceeds to block 846 and the label 102is seized. In some embodiments, the seizing of the label 102 can includeremoving the label 102 and any associated item 104 from circulation. Insome embodiments, the seizing of the label 102 can result in forfeitureprocedures.

The process then moves to block 848 and the user is notified. In someembodiments, this notification can comprise, for example, an email, atelephone call, and electronic communication, or any other desired formof notification that indicates that the label has been seized due toassociation with an invalid account. In some embodiments, a labelcreator may be able to take steps to retrieve the seized label 102 andany item 104 associated with the label 102. Such step may comprise, forexample, the creation of a new account, payment for provided andrequested services, payment of a fine, or any other action. The process800 then terminates at block 850.

The Manifesting Label

FIG. 9 depicts one embodiment of a manifesting label 900. Themanifesting label 900 can be, for example, the label produced as aresult of a request for a manifesting label from a manifesting system. Amanifesting label 900 can, in some embodiments, include informationreceived from the user, and/or information provided and/or generated bythe manifesting system.

As depicted in FIG. 9, the manifesting label 900 comprises a substrate902. The substrate 902 can comprise any desired material capable ofbearing some or all of the below discussed information.

The manifesting label 900 depicted in FIG. 9 includes informationreceived from a user and information generated and/or provided by themanifesting system. Specifically, the manifesting label 900 depicted inFIG. 9 includes sender information 904 and destination information 906,both of which can be, for example, provided by the user and trackinginformation 908, service information 910, and payment information 912,all of which can be generated and/or provided by the manifesting system

The sender information 904 serves, in some embodiments, to identify thesender, and can, in some embodiments, provide a return destination foran undeliverable manifesting label 900. The sender information 904 caninclude a variety of desired information, including, for example, anaddress, identification of the sender, an image, or any other desiredinformation. A person skilled in the art will recognize that the presentdisclosure is not limited to embodiments with sender information 904,and is also not limited to embodiments including only specific senderinformation 904.

The destination information 906 can, in some embodiments, identify thespecific services desired by the sender. Specifically, as depicted inFIG. 9, the destination information 906 can identify a destination towhich the manifesting label 900 should be delivered. The destinationinformation 906 can include a variety of desired information, including,for example, an address, identification of the label recipient, animage, or any other desired information. A person skilled in the artwill recognize that the present disclosure is not limited to embodimentswith destination information 906, and is also not limited to embodimentsincluding only specific destination information 906.

The tracking information 908 provides, in some embodiments, a uniqueidentification of the manifesting label 900 to allow tracking of themanifesting label 900 as it progresses through a process and or receivesrequested services. In some specific embodiments, the trackinginformation 908 on the manifesting label 900 can comprise one or severalof: text, a text string, a computer readable code, a barcode, and/or anyother feature configured to allow the identification of the label. Asdepicted in the embodiment of FIG. 9, the tracking information 908 ofthe manifesting label 900 comprises a text string comprising a pluralityof numbers, and a linear barcode.

The service information 910 can, in some embodiments, provideinformation regarding services requested and associated with themanifesting label 900. In some embodiments this information can includeinformation relating to, for example, a service class, servicetimeframe, insurance coverage, or any other service related information.The service information 910 contained in the manifesting label 900 ofFIG. 9 specifies USPS Priority Mail as the requested service.

The payment information 912 can, in some embodiments, compriseinformation indicating transacted payment and/or indicating aresponsible payer. As depicted in FIG. 9, the payment information 912indicates that payment has been transacted, the source of the payment,and the manner in which payment was made.

The Manifesting System

FIG. 10 is a block-diagram illustrating one embodiment of a manifestingsystem 1000. The manifesting system 1000 can be configured to receiveinputs from a user, generate a label 900, generate a label manifest, andtransact payment. In some embodiments, the manifesting system 1000 canperform more or fewer functions than those listed above.

As depicted in FIG. 10, the manifesting system 1000 can comprise, forexample, a user terminal 1002. The user terminal 1002 can comprise anydevice capable of allowing a user to communicate with a centralmanifesting system 1004. In some embodiments, the user terminal 1002 cancomprise, for example, a device comprising a processor such as, forexample, a personal computer, a laptop computer, Smartphone, a cellphone, a tablet, or any other similar device.

As depicted in FIG. 10, the user terminal 1002 can be configured tocommunicate with the central manifesting system 1004 via a communicationsystem or network 1005. The communication system or network 1005 can beconfigured to communicate signals and can comprise, for example, a localarea network (LAN), a wide are network (WAN), the internet, a cell phonenetwork, a telecommunications network, Wi-Fi, or any other communicationsystem.

The manifesting system 1000 can comprise a payment terminal 1006. Thepayment terminal 1006 can comprise any device capable of allowingcommunication between a payment entity and the central manifestingsystem 1004. In some embodiments, the payment terminal 1006 cancomprise, for example, a device comprising a processor such as, forexample, a personal computer, a laptop computer, Smartphone, a cellphone, a tablet, or any other device including a processor. As alsodepicted in FIG. 10, the payment terminal 1006 can be configured tocommunicate with the central manifesting system 1004 via thecommunication system or network 1005.

The central manifesting system 1004 can comprise a variety of componentsand modules capable of performing a variety of functions. The centralmanifesting system 1004 can be configured to receive inputs fromcomponents of the manifesting system 1000 that are not included in thecentral manifesting system 1004, to provide information to thesecomponents, and to perform label generation, label manifest generation,and transact payment. In some embodiments the components and modules ofthe central manifesting system 1004 can be communicatingly connected viaa communication feature 1007. The communication feature 1007 cancomprise any feature capable of establishing a communicating connectionbetween the features and modules of the central manifesting system 1004and can include, for example, a wired or wireless device, a BUS, acommunications network, or any other suitable feature.

In some embodiments, the central manifesting system 1004 can comprise,for example, a processor 1008. The processor 1008 may comprise a singleprocessor, or may be a component of a processing system implemented withone or more processors. The one or more processors 1008 may beimplemented with any combination of general-purpose microprocessors,microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs), field programmablegate array (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), controllers,state machines, gated logic, discrete hardware components, dedicatedhardware finite state machines, or any other suitable entities that canperform calculations or other manipulations of information. Theprocessor 1008 can comprise, for example, a microprocessor, such as aPentium® processor, a Pentium® Pro processor, a 8051 processor, a MIPS®processor, a Power PC® processor, an Alpha® processor, or the like. Theprocessor 208 typically has conventional address lines, conventionaldata lines, and one or more conventional control lines.

The processor 1008 can be in communicating connection with memory 1010.The memory 1010 can include, for example, RAM memory, flash memory, ROMmemory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removabledisk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art.The memory can include, for example, software, at least one softwaremodule, instructions, steps of an algorithm, or any other information.In some embodiments, the processor 1008 can perform processes inaccordance with instruction stored in the memory 1010. These processescan include, for example, controlling features and/or components of thecentral manifesting system 1004, requesting and/or receiving informationfrom features and/or components of the central manifesting system 1004,requesting and/or receiving information from features and/or componentsof the manifesting system 1000, transmitting instructions and/or controlsignals to features and/or components of the central manifesting system1004, requesting information from an administrator, transmittinginformation to the administrator, processing information received fromfeatures and/or components of the central manifesting system 1004,processing information received from features and/or components of themanifesting system 1000, processing information received from theadministrator, and/or any other desired processes.

In some embodiments, the memory 1010 can comprise one or severaldatabases. The database can comprise an organized collection of digitaldata. The data stored in the database can comprise any desired data, andcan, in some embodiments, relate to functions of the manifesting system1000 and/or the central manifesting system 1004.

In some embodiments, and as depicted in FIG. 10, the memory 1010comprises a plurality of databases, and specifically provides a manifestdatabase 1012, an account database 1014, and a payment database 1016. Insome embodiments, the manifest database 1012 can comprise, for example,information relating to one or several manifesting labels 900. In someembodiments, the data stored in the manifest database 1012 can comprisethe manifest list. In some embodiments, the manifest list can be thedigital manifest database 1012, and in some embodiments, the manifestlist can be a printout of the digital manifest database 1012.

In some embodiments, the information relating to one or severalmanifesting labels 900 can include, for example, data relating to theexistence of one or several manifesting labels 900, the properties ofthe one or several manifesting labels 900, the identification of the oneor several manifesting label 900, the association of the manifestinglabels 900 with a user and/or a user account, or any other desiredinformation.

In some embodiments, the account database 1014 can comprise informationrelating to the user and/or the user account. In some embodiments, thisinformation can include, for example, account information such as anaccount number, a user name, a password, or any other accountidentification and/or verification information. In some embodiments, theaccount database 1014 can comprise information relating to the accountstatus, including, for example account usage, account payments due,account payments pending, account payments received, frequentrecipients, frequent label types or label information, or any otherdesired information.

In some embodiments, the payment database 1016 can comprise paymentinformation. In some embodiments, this information can include, forexample, an identifier associating payment information with a useraccount, account payment information, payment source, payment protocols,and/or any other desired payment information. The account paymentinformation can include any information relating to the payment statusof a user account, such as, for example, the amount of payment due, pastpayments made, and any other historic, current, or projected financialinformation. The payment source can include, for example, identificationof a source for payment, such as, for example, a bank, a credit card, apayment service, or any other source from which payment can be received.In some embodiments, the payment protocols can include instructions orinformation that facilitates requesting and receiving payment from apayment source. In some embodiments these protocols can include, forexample, a verification number, a place or method for submitting apayment request, a time interval for making payment, or any otherinstructions or information that facilitates requesting and receivingpayment.

The central manifesting system 1004 can, in some embodiments, comprise acommunications module 1018 that can be communicatingly connected to theprocessor 1008. In some embodiments, the communications module 1018 canbe configured to communicate with other manifesting system 1000entities, such as, for example, the user terminal 1002 and the paymentterminal 1006. In some embodiments, the communications module 1018 canbe configured for wired or wireless communications, and can beconfigured to request information and receive inputs from the userterminal 1002, the payment terminal 1006, and/or components or modulesof the central manifesting system 1004.

The central manifesting system 1004 can, in some embodiments, comprise aplurality of modules. In some embodiments, these modules can beconfigured to receive or generate inputs for the central manifestingsystem 1004. In one embodiment, and as depicted in FIG. 10, the centralmanifesting system 1004 can comprise a plurality of modules, and canspecifically comprise an administrator module 1020, a tracking module1022, and a security module 226.

In some embodiments, the administrator module 1020 can comprise anadministrator access point. In some embodiments, the administratoraccess point can comprise any device, software, or feature capable orrequesting and receiving information from the central manifesting system1004 and providing inputs to the central manifesting system 1004. Insome embodiments, the administrator access point can comprise a terminaland/or an access portal. In some embodiments, the administrator terminalcan comprise any device capable or requesting and receiving informationfrom the central manifesting system 1004 and providing inputs to thecentral manifesting system 1004. In some embodiments, the administratorterminal can comprise any device capable of allowing an administrator tocommunicate with a central manifesting system 1004. In some embodiments,the administrators terminal can comprise, for example, a devicecomprising a processor such as, for example, a personal computer, alaptop computer, smart phone, a cell phone, a tablet, or any otherdevice including a processor. In some embodiments, the access portal cancomprise a web portal, or any other software configured to allow anadministrator to access information from the central manifesting system1004.

In some embodiments, the administrator access point can be configured toprovide an administrator information relating to, for example, thehistory of the manifesting system 1000, the history of the centralmanifesting system 1004, statistical and/or financial reports, andpayment information. In some embodiments, the statistical reports caninclude, for example, use statistics for the manifesting labels 900, forthe extended and/or manifesting system 1000 and central manifestingsystem 1004, for shipping, for one or several user accounts, and/or forany other desired topic. In some embodiments, the financial reports canrelate to costs of operating the manifesting system 1000, costs ofoperating the central manifesting system 1004, revenues from the use ofthe manifesting system 1000 and/or central manifesting system 1004,profits for the manifesting system 1000 and/or central manifestingsystem 1004, and/or any other desired financial report. In someembodiments, the financial reports or statistical reports relating to auser's us of the manifesting system. The financial reports may includerevenues generated based on items sent or distributed using themanifesting system, such as, for example, revenue generated frombusiness reply mail items. The statistical reports may relate to thequantity or number of items associated with a user. The paymentinformation can relate to, for example, outstanding bills, paid bills,requested refunds, disputed bills, and or any other payment relatedinformation. A person of skill in the art will recognize that theadministrator and the administrator module 1020 is not limited to thespecific functions and features discussed above, but that it can havemore or fewer features and functions, and can include differentcombinations of the above outlined, and/or additional features andfunctions.

In some embodiments, the tracking module 1022 can comprise, for example,a system of one or several sensors, a database, and a processorconfigured to receive data relating to the manifesting label 900 and totrack processing performed in accordance with the data relating to themanifesting label 900. As discussed, the label information from themanifesting label 900 can be, for example, compiled into the manifestdatabase 1012. In some embodiments, information collected by thetracking module 1022 can be compiled in the manifest database 1012.Advantageously the collection of tracking information in addition tolabel information in the manifest database 1012 allows analysis ofservices requested by the user, and the services provided to the user.

As discussed at length above, in some embodiments, the security module226 can comprise, for example, features and components configured todetect and prevent fraud.

In some embodiments, the security module 226 can provide securitybenefits to the user, and in some embodiments, the security module 226can provide security benefits for the operator of the manifesting system1000. Specifically, in one embodiment, the security module 226 can beconfigured to prevent improper usage of a user account, to detect afraudulent or improper payment, to detect an improper or fraudulentlabel, and/or to detect an improperly labeled object 104.

In one embodiment in which the security module 226 is configured toprevent improper object 104 labeling, the security module 226 cancomprise sampling features configured to sample all or a portion ofmanifesting labels 900 to determine if the sampled manifesting labels900 include proper information. This sampling can detect erroneouslabeling, such as when the payment amount associated with themanifesting labels 900 is insufficient to cover the requested services,fraudulent labeling such as when a user systematically improperly labelsobjects 104, or any other improper labeling practice. In someembodiments, the sampling can detect the payment specified by themanifesting labels 900, the services requested by the manifesting labels900, and label and/or object attributes to determine the proper paymentamount.

In some embodiments, the security module can compare the calculatedpayment amount with the payment amount indicated by the manifestinglabels 900 and determine if the manifesting labels 900 was improper. Insome embodiments, the security module 226 can determine that labeling isimproper when the payment indicated by the label is more thanapproximately 10 percent different from the proper payment amount, morethat approximately 5 percent different from the proper payment amount,more than approximately 2 percent different from the proper paymentamount, more than approximately 1 percent different from the properpayment amount, more than approximately 0.5 percent different from theproper payment amount, or more than any other desired difference betweenthe calculated payment amount and the payment amount indicated by themanifesting labels 900. A person of skill in the art will recognize thatthe security module 226 can comprise a variety of features and perform avariety of functions, and that the security module is not limited to theabove enumerated features and functions.

A person of skill in the art will recognize that the manifesting systemand/or the central manifesting system 1004 can comprise more or fewerfeatures, components, and/or modules than those outlined above, and canbe capable of performing more of fewer functions than those outlinedabove.

Operation of the Status Tracking System

FIG. 11 is a flow-chart illustrating one embodiment of a process formanifesting performed by a central manifesting system 1004. In someembodiments, the manifesting process can be configured to receiveinformation to produce a manifesting label 900 and store informationrelating to the manifesting label 900. The process 1100 begins in block1102 where the central manifesting system 1004 receives a request forthe generation of the electronic version of the manifesting label 900and provides the electronic version of the manifesting label 900 to theuser terminal 1002. In some embodiments, the central manifesting system1004 can be provided by the central manifesting system 1004, andspecifically by the communications module 1018 of the centralmanifesting system 1004 to the user terminal 1002.

The process 1100 then moves to block 1104 where the central manifestingsystem 1004 updates a database with information relating to theelectronic version of the manifesting label 900. In some embodiments,the processor 1008 updates the manifest database 1012 with informationrelating to the electronic version of the manifesting label 900. In someembodiments, the manifest database 1012 is update with informationrelating to the electronic version of the manifesting label 900including, for example, sender information, destination information,requested service information, price information, and/or any otherdesired information.

The process 1100 proceeds to block 1106 where the central manifestingsystem 1004 transacts payment. In some embodiments, payment can betransacted in response to providing the electronic version of themanifesting label 900 and/or in response to updating the database withinformation relating to the electronic version of the manifesting label900.

After payment is transacted in block 1106, the process 1100 terminatesat block 1108. A person of skill in the art will recognize that theprocess 1100 for operating the manifesting system 1000 can include someor all of the above discussed steps, as well as steps additional to theabove requested steps. A person of skill in the art will furtherrecognize that the process 1100 for operating the manifesting system1000 can include the above listed steps performed in any order,including in an order different than that shown above.

FIG. 12 is a flow-chart illustrating one embodiment of a process 1200for using a central manifesting system 1004. In some embodiments, theprocess 1200 is performed by the user terminal 1002. In someembodiments, and as depicted in FIG. 12, the process 1200 begins atblock 1202 and the user terminal 1002 requests the generation of theelectronic version of the manifesting label 900. The request forgeneration of the electronic version of the manifesting label 900 can becommunicated from the user terminal 1002 to the central manifestingsystem 1004.

After the request for the electronic version of the manifesting label900, the process 1200 moves to block 1204 and the user terminal 1002provides account information to the central manifesting system 1004. Insome embodiments, the account information can be stored in the memory ofthe user terminal 1002, or it can be provided to the user terminal 1002by the user. In some embodiments, this account information can include,for example, a user name, a password, an account number, or any otherinformation that identifies the user account.

After the account information is provided to the central manifestingsystem 1004 in block 1204, the process 1200 moves to block 1206 and theuser terminal provides information for inclusion on the manifestinglabel 900.

In some embodiments, the information for inclusion on the manifestinglabel 900 can include sender information 904 and/or destinationinformation 906, an object description, including description of thenature of the object, of the size of the object, of the weight of theobject, or of any other attribute of an object that will be associatedwith the manifesting label 900, pricing information for the requestedservices, customs information to allow providing services acrossnational boundaries, or any other desired information. A person of skillin the art will recognize that a variety of information can be provided,and that the present disclosure is not limited to the above specificallyenumerated types of information.

After providing information for inclusion in the manifesting label 900in block 1206, the process 1200 moves to block 1208 and the userterminal 1002 receives the electronic version of the manifesting label900. In some embodiments, receiving the electronic version of themanifesting label 900 can comprise receiving unformatted informationfrom the central manifesting system 1004 that is formatted by the userterminal 1002, or receiving a formatted electronic version of themanifesting label 900. In some embodiments, the manifesting label 900can be received from the central manifesting system 1004, and caninclude some or all of the provided manifesting label information and/orinformation generated by central manifesting system 1004.

After the electronic version of the manifesting label 900 is received bythe user terminal 1002 in block 1208, the process 1200 moves to block1210 and the user terminal creates the physical version of themanifesting label and/or prints the physical version of the manifestinglabel 900. The process 1200 then moves to block 1212 wherein the paymentrequest is received. In some embodiments, the payment request may bereceived directly at the user terminal 1002, and in some embodiments,the payment request may be received at the payment terminal 1006.

After the payment request is received in block 1212, the process 1200moves to block 1214 where the payment is transacted, after which theprocess terminates at block 1216. A person of skill in the art willrecognize that the process 1200 for using the manifesting system caninclude some or all of the above discussed steps, as well as stepsadditional to the above requested steps. A person of skill in the artwill further recognize that the process 1200 for using the manifestingsystem can include the above listed steps performed in any order,including in an order different than that shown above.

FIG. 13 is a flow-chart illustrating another embodiment of a process1300 is a flow-chart illustrating another embodiment of a process formanifesting performed by a central manifesting system. The process 1300can be configured to identify a user, generate a manifesting label 900,update a database with information from the manifesting label 900, andtransact a payment. In some embodiments, the process 1300 can beperformed by the central manifesting system 1004.

The process 1300 begins at block 1302 where the central manifestingsystem 1004 receives user information from the user terminal. Asdiscussed above, the user information can comprise any information thatidentifies a user and/or a user account. As also discussed above, thisinformation can be provided by the user and/or can be stored on the userterminal 1002 or other user accessible computing and/or storage device.In some embodiments, this information is received by the centralmanifesting system 1004 from the user terminal 1002, and can, in someembodiments, be received by the communications module 1018 of thecentral status tracking system 1004 from the user terminal 1002

After the user information is received at the central manifesting system900, the process 1300 moves to block 1306 wherein the user and/or useraccount information is matched with the received user information. Insome embodiments, the processor 1008 can receive the user identificationinformation from the user terminal 1002 via the communications module1018. In some embodiments, the processor 1008 can query the userdatabase 1014 to determine if the received user information matches anyof the stored information identifying a user and/or a user account. Insome embodiments, the processor 1008 can query the user database 1014for user and/or user account information. Once the processor 1008 hasreceived the user and/or user account information from the user database1014, the processor 1008 matches the user and/or user accountinformation from the user database 1014 with the information receivedfrom the user terminal 1002. If the information received from the userterminal 1002 matches information received from the user database 1014,then the processor 1008 identifies a user and/or user account andproceeds to block 1306. If the information received from the userterminal 1002 does not match information retrieved from the userdatabase 1014 then the process 1300 can terminate, or can direct theuser to open a new user account.

After information received from the user terminal 1002 is successfullymatched with information retrieved from the user database 1014, theprocess 1300 proceeds to block 1306 where the central manifesting system1004 receives a request for the generation of the electronic version ofthe manifesting label 900 from the user terminal 1002. In someembodiments, the electronic version of the manifesting label 900 cancomprise the digital form of the manifesting label 900. In someembodiment, the electronic version of the manifesting label 900 can havethe same formatting as the physical version of the manifesting label,different formatting, or be unformatted.

After the request for the generation of the electronic version of themanifesting label 900 is received, the process moves to block 1308 wherethe central manifesting system 1004 receives information for inclusionon the manifesting label 900 from the user terminal. In someembodiments, this information can be stored in the memory of the userterminal 1002, or can be entered into the user terminal 1002 by theuser. In some embodiments, this information can include senderinformation 904 and/or destination information 906, an objectdescription, including description of the nature of the object, of thesize of the object, of the weight of the object, or of any otherattribute of an object that will be associated with the manifestinglabel 900, pricing information for the requested services, customsinformation to allow providing services across national boundaries, orany other desired information. A person of skill in the art willrecognize that a variety of information can be provided, and that thepresent disclosure is not limited to the above specifically enumeratedtypes of information.

After the information for inclusion in the manifesting label 900 isreceived, the process 1300 proceeds to block 1310 and the centralmanifesting system 1004 generates the electronic version of the label.In some embodiments, the central manifesting system 1004 can generatethe electronic version of the manifesting label 900 with informationreceived from the user terminal 1002 and with information generated atthe central manifesting system 1004. In some embodiments, informationgenerated at the central manifesting system 1004 can include, forexample, cost, shipping codes, shipping zones, computer readable codes,manifesting label 900 identification information, or any otherinformation.

After the central manifesting system 1004 generates the electronicversion of the manifesting label 900 in block 1310, the process 1300proceeds to block 1312 and the processor 1008 updates a database withinformation relating to the electronic version of the manifesting label.In one embodiment, the processor 1008 updates the manifest database1012. In some embodiments, the processor 1008 updates the manifestdatabase 1012 by adding identifiers indicative of information from theelectronic version of the manifesting label 900 to the manifest database1012.

After the processor 1008 has updated the manifest database 1012 in block1312, the process 1300 proceeds to block 1314 and the centralmanifesting system 1004 provides the electronic version of themanifesting label 900 to the user terminal 1002.

After the electronic version of the manifesting label 900 is provided tothe user terminal 1002, the process 1300 proceeds to block 1316 and thecentral manifesting system 1004 requests payment. After payment isrequested, the process 1300 proceeds to block 1318 and the centralmanifesting system 1004 transacts payment. In some embodiments, thetransacting of payment can include communication between the centralmanifesting system 1004 and the user terminal 1002 and/or the paymentterminal 1006. After the process 1300 has transacted payment, theprocess 1300 terminates at block 1320. A person of skill in the art willrecognize that the process 1300 for manifesting performed by a centralmanifesting system can include some or all of the above discussed steps,as well as steps additional to the above requested steps. A person ofskill in the art will further recognize that the process 1300 formanifesting performed by a central manifesting system can include theabove listed steps performed in any order, including in an orderdifferent than that shown above.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustrating one embodiment of a process 1400for authenticating user information defined by blocks 1302 and 1304 asdepicted in FIG. 13. The process 1400 can authenticate the user and canverify the good standing of the user. In some embodiments, the process1400 is performed by the central manifesting system 1004.

The process 1400 begins in block 1302 when the central manifestingsystem 1004 receives the user information from the user terminal 1002 asdiscussed above.

After the user information from the user terminal 1002 is received bythe central manifesting system 1004, the process 1400 moves to block1402 where the processor 1008 queries the user database 1014 for storeduser information. In some embodiments, this information can include, ausername, a password, an account number, an indicator of a responsiblepayer, and/or any other desired user information.

After the process 1400 receives the user information, the process 1400proceeds to decision state 1404 and the processor 1008 determines if thereceived information identifies an account. In some embodiments, thisdetermination is made by determining if the information received fromthe user terminal 1002 matches any of the information retrieved from theuser database 1014. If the information received from the user terminal1002 does not match information retrieved from the user database 1014,then the process 1400 can terminate at block 1406, or the process 1400can direct the user to open a new user account. In some embodiments,this determination as to whether to terminate process 1400 or to requestthe opening of a new user account can be made based on predeterminedcriteria including procedures for opening a new user account.

If the information received from the user terminal 1002 matchesinformation retrieved from the user database 1014, then the processmoves to decision state and the processor 1008 determines if the accountis in good standing. In some embodiments, this determination caninclude, for example, the processor 1008 querying the user database 1014and/or querying the payment database 1016 for information relating towhether the user account is active, whether the user account is currenton outstanding payments, whether the balance of payments due is abovesome threshold, whether the account use is outside of some predeterminerange, or any other desired factor. If the user account is not in goodstanding, the process 1400 terminates at block 1406, or the centralmanifesting system 1004 can notify the user terminal 1002 that the useraccount has been suspended until the account is brought into goodstanding.

If the processor 1008 determines that the account is in good standing,then the process 1400 proceeds to block 1410 and the processor 1008verifies the user. After the user has been verified, the process 1400moves to block 1412 and passes to block 1306 of process 1300 as depictedin FIG. 13.

A person of skill in the art will recognize that the process 1400 forauthenticating user information can include some or all of the abovediscussed steps, as well as steps additional to the above requestedsteps. A person of skill in the art will further recognize that theprocess 1400 for authenticating user information can include the abovelisted steps performed in any order, including in an order differentthan that shown above.

A person skilled in the art will recognize that each of thesesub-systems can be inter-connected and controllably connected using avariety of techniques and hardware and that the present disclosure isnot limited to any specific method of connection or connection hardware.

The technology is operational with numerous other general purpose orspecial purpose computing system environments or configurations.Examples of well known computing systems, environments, and/orconfigurations that may be suitable for use with the invention include,but are not limited to, personal computers, server computers, hand-heldor laptop devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems,programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframecomputers, distributed computing environments that include any of theabove systems or devices, and the like.

As used herein, instructions refer to computer-implemented steps forprocessing information in the system. Instructions can be implemented insoftware, firmware or hardware and include any type of programmed stepundertaken by components of the system.

A microprocessor may be any conventional general purpose single- ormulti-chip microprocessor such as a Pentium® processor, a Pentium® Proprocessor, a 8051 processor, a MIPS® processor, a Power PC® processor,or an Alpha® processor. In addition, the microprocessor may be anyconventional special purpose microprocessor such as a digital signalprocessor or a graphics processor. The microprocessor typically hasconventional address lines, conventional data lines, and one or moreconventional control lines.

The system may be used in connection with various operating systems suchas Linux®, UNIX® or Microsoft Windows®.

The system control may be written in any conventional programminglanguage such as C, C++, BASIC, Pascal, or Java, and ran under aconventional operating system. C, C++, BASIC, Pascal, Java, and FORTRANare industry standard programming languages for which many commercialcompilers can be used to create executable code. The system control mayalso be written using interpreted languages such as Perl, Python orRuby.

The foregoing description details certain embodiments of the systems,devices, and methods disclosed herein. It will be appreciated, however,that no matter how detailed the foregoing appears in text, the systems,devices, and methods can be practiced in many ways. As is also statedabove, it should be noted that the use of particular terminology whendescribing certain features or aspects of the invention should not betaken to imply that the terminology is being re-defined herein to berestricted to including any specific characteristics of the features oraspects of the technology with which that terminology is associated.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and changes may be made without departing from the scopeof the described technology. Such modifications and changes are intendedto fall within the scope of the embodiments. It will also be appreciatedby those of skill in the art that parts included in one embodiment areinterchangeable with other embodiments; one or more parts from adepicted embodiment can be included with other depicted embodiments inany combination. For example, any of the various components describedherein and/or depicted in the Figures may be combined, interchanged orexcluded from other embodiments.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singularterms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from theplural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as isappropriate to the context and/or application. The varioussingular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sakeof clarity.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, termsused herein are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term“including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” theterm “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term“includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,”etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if aspecific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such anintent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence ofsuch recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid tounderstanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of theintroductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claimrecitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed toimply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinitearticles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing suchintroduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one suchrecitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases“one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or“an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “atleast one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use ofdefinite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, evenif a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitlyrecited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitationshould typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number(e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without othermodifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or morerecitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a conventionanalogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in generalsuch a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the artwould understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one ofA, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have Aalone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where aconvention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, ingeneral such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill inthe art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at leastone of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that haveA alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be furtherunderstood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive wordand/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in thedescription, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplatethe possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, orboth terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood toinclude the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

All references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety. To the extent publications and patents or patentapplications incorporated by reference contradict the disclosurecontained in the specification, the specification is intended tosupersede and/or take precedence over any such contradictory material.

The term “comprising” as used herein is synonymous with “including,”“containing,” or “characterized by,” and is inclusive or open-ended anddoes not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.

All numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, reaction conditions,and so forth used in the specification and claims are to be understoodas being modified in all instances by the term “about.” Accordingly,unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth inthe specification and attached claims are approximations that may varydepending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by thepresent invention. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit theapplication of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims,each numerical parameter should be construed in light of the number ofsignificant digits and ordinary rounding approaches.

The above description discloses several methods and materials of thepresent invention. This invention is susceptible to modifications in themethods and materials, as well as alterations in the fabrication methodsand equipment. Such modifications will become apparent to those skilledin the art from a consideration of this disclosure or practice of theinvention disclosed herein. Consequently, it is not intended that thisinvention be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, butthat it cover all modifications and alternatives coming within the truescope and spirit of the invention as embodied in the attached claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for tracking label status, the systemcomprising: a first database comprising label information, wherein thelabel information comprises an identifier indicating the status of anelectronic label; and a processor, implemented at least partially byhardware, operating in accordance with instructions stored in a memory,wherein the processor is configured to: cause generation of theelectronic label, wherein the electronic label includes information ofrequested services; update the identifier in the first database toindicate existence of the electronic label; record a time indicative ofthe generation of the electronic label; cause generation of a physicallabel by a label user at a user terminal, the physical label configuredto be affixed with an object that is to be processed according to therequested services, the physical label including the information ofrequested services; update the status of the electronic label in thefirst database to indicate the generation of the physical label; receivea signal from a scanning module indicating a physical label statuschange corresponding to the physical label being scanned by a physicalscanning device after the object with the affixed physical label isdelivered to a provider of the requested services; determine, inresponse to the received signal, whether the physical label has beenscanned by the physical scanning device within a predetermined timeperiod from the time indicative of the generation of the electroniclabel; if the physical label has been scanned by the physical scanningdevice within the predetermined time period, update the identifier inthe first database to indicate that a service identified in theinformation of requested services has been provided; if the physicallabel has not been scanned by the physical scanning device within thepredetermined time period, update the identifier in the first databaseto indicate that the status of the electronic label is not valid; andcommunicate the updated status of the electronic label to the label uservia a communications device.
 2. The system of claim 1, furthercomprising a second database, wherein the second database comprisespayment information.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the paymentinformation is associated with the label user.
 4. The system of claim 3,wherein the payment information comprises access information of anaccount of the label user.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein theprocessor is further configured to request payment information from thesecond database after receiving a signal indicating that the status haschanged.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to access the account and debit the account.
 7. A method oftracking label status, the method comprising: maintaining an identifierin a first database comprising an identifier indicating a status of anelectronic label; generating the electronic label, wherein theelectronic label includes information of requested services; updatingthe identifier in the first database to indicate existence of theelectronic label; recording a time indicative of generation, of theelectronic label; causing generation of a physical label by a label userat a user terminal, the physical label configured to be affixed with anobject that is to be processed according to the requested objectservices, the physical label including the information of requestedservices; updating the status of the electronic label in the firstdatabase to indicate the generation of the physical label; receiving asignal from a scanning module indicating a status change of the physicallabel corresponding to the physical label being scanned by a physicalscanning device and after the object with the affixed physical label isdelivered to a provider of the requested services; determining, inresponse to the received signal, whether the physical label has beenscanned by the physical scanning device within a predetermined timeperiod from the time indicative of the generation of the electroniclabel; if the physical label has been scanned by the physical scanningdevice within the predetermined time period, updating the status in thefirst database to indicate that a service identified in the informationof requested services has been provided; if the physical label has notbeen scanned by the physical scanning device within the predeterminedtime period, updating the status in the first database to indicate thatthe status of the electronic label is not valid; and communicating theupdated status of the electronic label to the label user via acommunications device.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein a seconddatabase comprises payment information associated with the label user.9. The method of claim 8, wherein the payment information comprisesaccess information of an account of the label user.
 10. The method ofclaim 9, further comprising requesting payment information from thesecond database after receiving a signal indicating that the status haschanged.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising accessing theaccount and debiting the account.
 12. A system configured to track labelstatus, the system comprising: means for maintaining an identifier in afirst database comprising an identifier indicating a status of anelectronic label; means for generating the electronic label, wherein theelectronic label includes information of requested services; means forupdating the identifier in the first database to indicate existence ofthe electronic label; means for recording a time indicative ofgeneration of the electronic label; means for causing generation of aphysical label by a label user at a user terminal, the physical labelconfigured to be affixed with an object that is to be processedaccording to the requested object services, the physical label includingthe information of requested services; means for updating the status ofthe electronic label in the first database to indicate the generation ofthe physical label; means for receiving a signal from a scanning moduleindicating a status change of the physical label corresponding to thephysical label being scanned by a physical scanning device and after theobject with the affixed physical label is delivered to a provider of therequested services; means for determining, in response to receiving thesignal, that the physical label has been scanned by the physicalscanning device within a predetermined time from the time indicative ofgeneration of the electronic label; means for updating the status, inthe first database, if the physical label has been scanned by thephysical scanning device within the predetermined time period, toindicate that a service identified in the information of requestedservices has been provided, and if the physical label has not beenscanned by the physical scanning device within the predetermined timeperiod, to indicate that the status of the electronic label is notvalid; and means for communicating the updated status of the electroniclabel to the label user via a communications device.